Tuesday, September 29, 2009

As you have probably figured out by now, I have an unexplainable desire for everything pumpkin. Maybe it all started with Cinderella! I have been wanting to make pumpkins from an old chenille beadspread for some time now but am reluctant to use my front-load washing machine for dying fabric. These velvet pumpkins found at housemartin.typepad.com are in the first prize category in my pumpkin world and I wouldn't need to dye fabric. Unfortunatley, these are for sale at House Martin as a finished product and not offered as a do-it-yourself project, which means....I'll just have to figure it out myself! I can't wait to make a few of these to add to my pumpkin collection.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Yesterday, our pastor used this great verse to remind us that God's commands are for our benefit. His boundaries are set in place to keep us safe and show His great love for us. We so often fight against what we perceive as constraints...rules that seem to be created to cause us frustration. Because of His deep love for us he places rules in our lives so that we can experience joy, happiness, and a life rich with blessings.

I found this cute Family Rules decorated canvas at The Pleated Poppy. My first thoughts were that it was sooo cute and looked like something even "not so into crafts" people would give a try. I was a bit disappointed because I don't have little kidlets at my house and I don't think that my husband would think it was "cute" to post family rules at this stage of the game but after yesterday's sermon I think it would be a great idea to make one with God's rules listed......rules that have fallen in pleasant places!

Amanda and I have been busy getting ready for The Mad Hatter Vintage Market being held this Friday and Saturday so I haven't had time for personal projects but this one will be first in line after the show!

You can find very detailed directions to make your own Family Rules canvas at The Pleated Poppy.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

The Saturday morning breakfast request was Pumpkin Pancakes, one of our fall favorites. I was trying to take this photo before my husband found out I was going to blog his breakfast and was caught by Amanda...she understood because she blogs too!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

When I watch TV I always need to be doing something constructive. It may be looking through magazines for ideas or inspiration or I may sort through the mail that has piled up, put some paperwork in order or make lists. Recently I have found Kanzashi flowers to be perfect for a TV watching project. Kanzashi Flowers, according to Wikipedia, are Japanese hair ornaments. They obviously have so many other creative prospects. I found a video tutorial at, womansday.com/bloom, that was easy to understand. I did watch the tutorial about 3 times but after that I could whip a flower out in no time. I made this cute burlap pillow with a cluster of 3 Kanzashis. I finished it off with a vintage yoyo, button and earring. I have the book, Kanazashi In Bloom, on my wish list at Amazon. Diane Gilleland, the author has a website that looks helpful and fun and full of other ideas for the flowers. My next Kanzashi project will be large petals made out of paper to form flowers that I can hang from the ceiling for parties or just for fun!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I'm giving these people an A+ for thinking way outside the box. If one light fixture is good why not two or five or eight? This is evidently a brew bar in Auckland New Zealand called the Northern Steamship Company that tried something a little different in the lighting department. What a great way to add interest and uniqueness to a space that looks rather on the ho-hum side. If we ever build a house again I think I will do this above the dining room table....and in our bedroom....and in the office.....

Here's a sneak peak at some of the fun stuff that we will be offering at The Mad Hatter Vintage Flea Market, Friday, October 2nd, 4-9pm & Saturday, October 3rd, 9am-6pm. The market will be located at the Five Mile Grange in Spokane. It looks like it will be a great show with many wonderful vendors, tea, and tasty treats. Hope to see you there!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Fall officially starts next Tuesday the 22nd but I, as usual, couldn't wait that long. I spent Labor Day doing a little fall decorating around the house. I just love the opportunity to put splashes of orange everywhere and not feel weird about it. I really don't know why I seem to be afraid of the color orange. Possibly it has something to do with those mean kids that called me carrot top when I was growing up. I wish I had had the spunk that Ann had when Gilbert called her the same but instead I would just feel shame and hurt for being so different. I often wondered why God had decided that of all the colors of hair that he could have given me....he chose red. It took many years of enduring the teasing before I came to realize that God actually gave me something special. Redheads actually make up only one percent of the world's population! That makes me incredibly unique. I came to terms with my hair color when I was in my early twenties and have loved it ever since. So..back to fall decorating.....here are just a few fun photos from BHG.com and Countryliving.com to inspire. As soon as my camera batteries charge up I will post some pics of my own fall decor.

Friday, September 11, 2009

If you happen to drive across the Wandermere Bridge in Spokane on the morning of 9/11 you will see this man, proudly flying the flag of the United States of America as a tribute to all those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

I don't know his story. He may have lost a loved one or know someone who did. I have also seen a man in uniform holding the flag and don't know if they are friends or relatives but whoever they are, thank you for taking the time to remind us to be grateful for our country and to remember those who lost their lives.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I had always thought that silhouettes were something you made in grade school for you mom for Mother's Day until a few years back when I found a hand stitched silhouette of a mother reading to her young child. When I went online to research them I realized that they have a deep history, are somewhat hard to find, and can be enormously expensive. I have found a few more over the years and my mom was happy to give me two nice ones that she had had for years. When I spotted these frames at an estate sale for $3.00 I though, why not make my own silhouettes?

I took the nice, but not my style, pictures out of the frames, sprayed them with spray adhesive, and covered them with fabric. I went online and found these two free images, printed them, enlarged them on my printer and cut them out...carefully.

I then painted them with black acrylic paint and let them dry completely (the key word here is completely).

After they were dry....I mixed some white glue with a bit of water in a small plastic bowl and using a sponge brush I painted the glue on the backside of the silhouettes being very careful not to get any glue on the front. I then turned them over and placed them on the fabric and smoothed them down...carefully.

You can find many tutorials online for turning your own photos into silhouettes because why would your mother want a silhouette of somebody else's kid?

Who doesn't love the taste of a good carameled apple? The crisp tart apple flavor mixed with the sweet smooth taste of caramel. They always sound like a great idea until I actually make them! I can never get the caramel to stay on the apple...just slides right off. I have tried different temperatures for the apples but no success. I have looked online for more detailed directions but they all are pretty much the same (Amanda thinks we should give the apples a good roughing up with sandpaper first...works with paint!!). I saw these little cuties over at the160acrewoods.com

and I think that I might give them a try (although she says she has the same trouble with the caramel sticking). If anyone knows why the caramel won't stick please let me know because I'm seriously thinking about glue and sandpaper.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My friend Kris called the other day and said that she wasn't sure what to do with all her extra time now that both of her little sweeties are in school all day. Not that she doesn't have a million things that need to get done but life suddenly looks a bit different. Her daughter Ella suggested fresh baked cookies served on a plate every day after school and I thought why stop there.....you could spend some of that time making these fabulous lunch creations. Your kids will think you are the best mom in the universe. Just trying to help out!